Publisher’s Note: Last week, ABD shared details about multi-million dollar improvements coming to the Doubletree, Augusta Marriott, and a re-imagined Ramada Hotel—which is a Marriott boutique hotel. The numbers bear out how extra employees and business may be leading to the growth.
Overall employment in 2025 for the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by 2,900 and ended the year at 249,800. The local hospitality industry was a HUGE factor.
This represents a 1.2 percent increase in employment. By contrast, US employment only increased at 0.4 percent, and Georgia employment increased by just 0.1 percent.
Three sectors accounted for most of the employment growth, collectively adding 5,000 jobs last year. Growth was driven by the leisure and hospitality industry, which saw employment increase by 2,800 (10.4%) over the year. Education and health services added 1,300 jobs (3.6%), and professional and business services added 900 jobs (2.3%).
Other sectors that increased employment were manufacturing, local and state government, financial activities, and other services.
Federal employment fell by 900 (8.9%) with the deferred retirement scheme introduced by the Trump administration. Large job losses were also seen in mining, logging, and construction (800 jobs or 5.2%) and transport and utilities (700 jobs or 7.7%). Smaller job losses were seen in wholesale, retail, and information.
The overall strength of the local labor market stands in contrast to the slow pace seen nationally. Employment growth nationally was the slowest for two decades outside the great recession and the covid recession. In Augusta, employment growth in 2025 was stronger than in 2024 and 2023. The local growth in education and health services and leisure and hospitality exceeded the growth in those sectors nationally. However, utilities employment increased nationally while it declined locally.
